Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald said the right things in December when he first arrived in East Lansing, and hit the right notes again this week at his Monday press conference. He’s about to take another step deeper into Spartan culture.
The time has come for Fitzgerald’s first MSU-Michigan game, and it’s a road night game in Ann Arbor. The Spartans are coming off a bye week and currently on a six-game losing streak, while Michigan sits at 5-3 overall, 2-3 in Big Ten play after winning at Rutgers last Saturday.
Below are details on how to watch, stream or listen to the game, as well as links to relevant stories from the week:
MICHIGAN STATE (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten) at MICHIGAN (5-3, 2-3)
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 7, 7:40 p.m. Eastern
STREAM: Peacock app (Paul Burmeister, Yogi Roth, Lewis Johnson) | PeacockTV.com **subscription required**
RADIO: Spartan Media Network (94.9 FM/1240 AM in Lansing; 760 AM in Detroit). Click here for a full list of affiliates
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORD: 75-38-5 Michigan
LAST MEETING: Oct. 25, 2025, at MSU. Michigan won 31-20.
CURRENT STREAK: Michigan +4
LINE: Michigan -14.5
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Saturday marks the second time in three seasons that both teams in this heated in-state series will have first-year head coaches on the sideline. Two years ago it was Jonathan Smith against Sherrone Moore, with the former going 0-2 against the Wolverines before his dismissal at the end of last season. Now it’s Michigan’s Kyle Whittingham labeled as the outsider, coming on board following Moore’s firing after a long, decorated run at Utah.
The Paul Bunyan Trophy has lived in Ann Arbor since 2022. The Spartans’ most recent wins in the series came in 2020 and 2021 under former head coach Mel Tucker.
“This is a week that not only our players, our staff, but all of our fans, our alums, our former players circle,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re excited to go down to Ann Arbor and compete for Paul Bunyan’s Trophy. We know exactly what we’re getting into. We’re playing a darn good football team. It’s what college football is all about. Rivalries are what college football is all about, it’s what makes it special. We couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity and the challenge.”
Following rivalry week, MSU will be back at home taking on Washington on Nov. 14 in the first matchup between the programs as Big Ten peers.
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